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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks won one for Nellie.
|  | | Don Nelson's emotional roller-coaster this week has included a prostate cancer diagnosis and his 938th career victory. |
Ailing coach Don Nelson got his 938th victory to tie Red Auerbach for fourth on the NBA career list a day after Nelson learned that he has prostate cancer as Dallas beat New York 94-85 on Wednesday night.
"It was nice to dedicate the game to Coach Nelson," said
Mavericks' guard Hubert Davis. "His illness puts things into perspective. Our prayers are with him, and him getting well is more important than wins."
Nelson will continue to run the team, despite the cancer diagnosis. Nelson said before the game that he will explore his options for treatment as soon as possible and then will determine how much time he will miss.
During his playing career with the Boston Celtics, Nelson was coached by Auerbach. Nelson received an ovation from the crowd when a graphic of his record was shown on the Reunion Arena replay board.
"This is a very special win for me personally because I had two
mentors (as a player)," said Nelson. "One was Jack McMahon, my
first coach in the NBA with the Chicago Zephyrs, and the other was
Red Auerbach, who I played for and was my general manager at Boston
for so long. To tie him is indeed a special evening for me and I would hope that Red would sign (the game ball)."
Michael Finley scored 21 points, Howard Eisley added 17 and Steve Nash 14 as all five of Dallas' starters scored in double
figures.
Dirk Nowitzki had 12 points and 14 rebounds and Davis, an
ex-Knick, added 15 points for the Mavericks, who improved to 4-0
against the Eastern Conference.
Marcus Camby had 18 points and 16 rebounds, and Allan Houston
added 17 points for New York, which had its three-game winning streak halted.
Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said his team fell into the trap of
attempting to match the Mavericks' long-range shooting. Dallas shot
54.8 percent from the field and beat New York on the boards 46-35.
"We tried to jump shoot with them and we're not as good a jump
shooting team," said Van Gundy. "We got mauled on the boards. We
got broken down on the dribble and didn't get the appropriate
help."
Glen Rice went scoreless in 25 minutes for the Knicks, missing
all six field goal attempts.
"They did a pretty good job of taking us out of our offense,"
said Rice. "They had us off-balance a little."
The Mavericks led by 21 points early in the third quarter, but
Houston cut into the deficit with two 3-pointers and another jumper
in a 9-2 run that pulled the Rockets within 64-51.
Dallas carried a 70-58 lead into the final quarter.
The Mavericks put the game away with a 9-0 run at the start of
the fourth quarter.
Dallas raced to a 55-35 halftime lead.
The Mavericks opened the game with a 22-5 run, hitting 11 of
their first 16 shots. The Knicks, who went more than five minutes
without scoring in the first quarter, missed 13 of their first 15
and 12 in a row.
Dallas built a 32-11 first-quarter lead and outrebounded New
York, 17-3, in the opening 12 minutes.
The Knicks were reluctant to take the ball inside against 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley and 7-0 Nowitzki, and never got untracked. Nelson had his team trapping early, with Bradley hanging back to play defense.
"I don't know if it was intimidation or what," said Van Gundy.
Bradley finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
Game notes
Dallas' 12-8 start is its best since opening the 1994-95
season at 12-8. ... Next up for Nelson on the coaching victory list
is No. 3 Bill Fitch with 944. ... Nelson was coached by Auerbach
for all 11 of his seasons with the Boston Celtics. ... Nelson
picked up a technical for arguing about a call with 7:41 left in
the first quarter. ... The Knicks are 5-3 against the Western
Conference. New York had won its previous three against Dallas.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Mavs' Nelson plans to seek treatment for cancer ASAP
RECAPS
LA Clippers 93
Washington 88
Charlotte 91
Indiana 88
Miami 95
Denver 78
Milwaukee 109
New Jersey 87
Cleveland 92
Chicago 88
Dallas 94
New York 85
Portland 95
Toronto 88
Detroit 112
Seattle 99
Golden State 125
LA Lakers 122
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